Digital & TEC Programme Manager

Sandwell Council's BCF Commissioning Team is seeking a strategic and experienced Digital & TEC Programme Manager on a permanent, full-time basis based from its Oldbury office. The organisation is operating to a hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

The opportunity

Technology Enabled Care is central to Sandwell's ambition to help residents live independently, safely and well for longer. We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to provide strategic system leadership while ensuring that TEC services are translated into clear, safe, sustainable and high-quality operational delivery. This is a visible and influential role across Adult Social Care and the wider Sandwell Place. You will act as Sandwell's professional lead for TEC and digital care technologies, advising senior leaders and shaping the future direction of the programme. You will bring together strategy, programme delivery, operational management, service transformation and partnership working, with a clear focus on prevention, personalisation, digital inclusion and improved outcomes for residents.

About the role

Reporting to the BCF Programme Lead, you will lead the strategic development and operational delivery of TEC across Sandwell. You will align the programme with relevant national agendas, Council and Integrated Care System digital strategies, emerging evidence and local Better Care Fund priorities. In this role you will:

• Lead the strategic development and delivery of Technology Enabled Care across Sandwell Place;
• Develop and implement Sandwell's TEC action plan, ensuring that agreed priorities are converted into coordinated, measurable and sustainable delivery;
• Provide professional leadership and expert advice on TEC, digital care technologies and innovation;
• Oversee end-to-end TEC pathways, digital equipment solutions and proactive monitoring models;
• Manage service performance, quality assurance, safeguarding, governance, risk and continuous improvement;
• Lead and support TEC operational staff, digital care coordinators and project officers, ensuring effective supervision, appraisal and workforce development;
• Champion co-production and digital inclusion so services are accessible, personalised, practical and trusted;
• Work with Council services, the NHS, primary and community care, housing, VCSE organisations, providers and suppliers to strengthen integrated pathways;
• Position TEC within prevention, early intervention, reablement, discharge to assess and community support;
• Lead service redesign and organisational readiness for digital change, including workforce capability, new workflows and modern TEC platforms;
• Use performance information, evidence, evaluation and user experience to improve delivery and demonstrate impact;
• Prepare reports, business cases, Cabinet briefings, dashboards and assurance updates for senior boards and partnership forums;
• Manage TEC budgets, forecasting, procurement, contracts and funding opportunities, ensuring value for money and sustainability;
• Represent Sandwell at local, regional and national forums, identifying emerging opportunities and risks in digital care technology.

About you

You will be a credible and collaborative programme leader who can turn strategic ambition into well-governed delivery. You will understand that successful TEC transformation depends on people, pathways, evidence and trust as much as it depends on technology. You will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant leadership experience within Technology Enabled Care, digital transformation, Adult Social Care, health or a closely related environment;
• Experience of leading complex programmes or service transformation from design through implementation, embedding and evaluation;
• Experience of managing operational services, including people, budgets, contracts, risks, performance and quality;
• A strong understanding of how technology can support prevention, independence, reablement, hospital discharge and community-based care;
• Knowledge of proactive, preventative and reactive TEC models, digital inclusion and the safe use of digital care technologies;
• Strong partnership-working skills and experience of influencing senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries;
• Experience of co-production and engagement with people who draw on services, carers and frontline staff;
• Confidence in using data, evidence, evaluation and user insight to improve outcomes and demonstrate value for money;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of reports and business cases for senior audiences;
• A commitment to equality, safeguarding, accountability and Sandwell's One Team values and behaviours.

Knowledge of local government finance, commissioning, interoperability, digital care records, sensor technologies or AI-enabled monitoring would be valuable. You should be able to travel across Sandwell and the wider West Midlands when required.

Why join Sandwell Council?

Our work has a direct impact on people's lives. This role offers the opportunity to shape a major area of Adult Social Care transformation, strengthen integrated working with health and community partners, and build a coherent TEC offer that supports independence and better outcomes across the borough. You will join a values-led organisation with a strong focus on inclusion, development, accountability and working as One Team. The role offers flexible and hybrid working in line with service requirements.

We place equality, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and how we lead, where every voice matters. At Sandwell, we recognise and value the richness that comes from diverse lived experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and identities. This diversity makes us a stronger and more effective council. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are treated fairly, and have the opportunity to thrive. Creating an environment where colleagues feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully is central to our culture and the way we work. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants and employees have equitable access to opportunities. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace so that everyone has the support they need to perform at their best and succeed in their role.

If you have any questions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion, you can contact the EDI Team at EDI_Team@sandwell.gov.uk. If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV. If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact imran_butt@sandwell.gov.uk. Sandwell Council welcomes applications from Armed Forces veterans and values the transferable skills and experience they bring. Under our Veterans' Guaranteed Interview Scheme, eligible veterans who demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered under the scheme.